ESP32 connecting speaker with Max98357

Hi all,

After viewing some posts and videos, i want to connect a simple speaker to ESP32 dev board using the
Max98357 DAC amplifier

The configuration builds and setup the esp32 as expected with audio media player device created for the esp
but i cant hear anything i try to play (some sample MP3 files from the internet)

Here is my yaml config, i removed non- relevant stuff

esphome:
  name: esp32-speaker
  friendly_name: esp32-speaker

esp32:
  board: esp32dev
  framework:
    type: arduino

# Enable logging
logger:

# Enable Home Assistant API
api:
  encryption:
    key: "###"

ota:
  - platform: esphome
    password: "###"

wifi:
  ssid: # !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password
  manual_ip:
    static_ip: 192.168.0.29
    gateway: 192.168.0.1
    subnet: 255.255.255.0

  # Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails
  ap:
    ssid: "ESP"
    password: "###"

captive_portal:

web_server:
  port: 80

i2s_audio:
  i2s_lrclk_pin: GPIO21
  i2s_bclk_pin: GPIO18

media_player:
  - platform: i2s_audio
    name: "ESP32 Audio Player"
    dac_type: external
    i2s_dout_pin: GPIO19
    mode: mono
    id: media_out

when i try to play the media file via dev tools HA page (see pic)

it seems the device is getting the file but no sound

log from esp32 console:

|10:58:25|[D]|[media_player:061]|'ESP32 Audio Player' - Setting|
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|10:58:25|[D]|[media_player:068]|Media URL: https://file-examples.com/storage/fe00d37cde6728af4966ebc/2017/11/file_example_MP3_700KB.mp3|
|10:58:25|[W]|[component:237]|Component i2s_audio.media_player took a long time for an operation (529 ms).|
|10:58:25|[W]|[component:238]|Components should block for at most 30 ms.|
|10:58:26|[W]|[component:237]|Component i2s_audio.media_player took a long time for an operation (486 ms).|
|10:58:26|[W]|[component:238]|Components should block for at most 30 ms.|

when i play same file on my google nest (via same HA dev tools page target is ) it plays ok as expected

I attach a photo of the setup

esp32 runs on 5V USB
5V/GND connect to DAC chip
3 connections from esp32 to DAC as in yaml
GPIO19 → DIN
GPIO18 → LRC
GPIO21 → BCLK

4 ohms speaker connected to speaker temrinal outputs of DAC

the remaining 2 connections (GAIN, SD) on the DAC are left unconnected

any idea what im doing wrong? or what to test maybe electrically on the DAC pins / speaker terminals to know if its working or not?